Couture Caravan for Graphic 45

This little piece is inspired by beautifully crafted “vardo”, traditional Romani wagons. 

The roof and base were cut from Couture’s Stunning using the largest die from Spellbinders Shapeabilites ‘Bow Elegance’. 

The body of the wagon is a simple box shape with a curved top created with ‘Gorgeous’ with panels of ‘Classy’ layered on top. 


It’s the addition of LOADS of Graphic 45 staples that really pull this piece together, giving it elegant little details throughout.




Supply List
Couture>
Gorgeous>
Classy>
Stunning
Graphic 45 Staples> 
Shabby Chic Door Pull> 
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes> 
Door Knockers> 
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Brads> 
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Keys
Spellbinders Shapeabilites ‘Bow Elegance’ s6-017
Tim Holtz Thinlits Mini Labels Die Set
Wooden craft wheels
White Foam Stamen*
Dried flowers
Bamboo skewers

Be sure to check out all the great project from my super talented teammates on Graphic 45's blog.

One Little Thing - Family

Tomorrow is Family Day in Ontario.

'Family' means different things to different people. For some it's blood relatives, for others friends are their chosen family. Lets not forget the important role that 'fur babies' play in the lives of many.  

This week your challenge is to create one little thing using the theme of 'Family'

Have fun! And enjoy creating :)

Forever Bouquets for Petaloo

The hubs and I have been together forever and we don't really celebrate Valentines Day. The sweeping romantic gesture in our house will be pizza and beer. Anyway, I really wanted to create a project that could be for any occasion, a sweet little something so say "I think you're nifty." So I made these little 'forever' bouquets with Petaloo's amazing faux blooms.

I'll probably keep these, maybe tuck them in the guest room, so that there are pretty blooms to look at year round. A few drops of essential oil and they'll even smell great too!

This little bouquet is in a small galvanized metal can. Inside I've placed some oasis, carved the top into a sort of dome shape and glued the blooms in place. So easy and cute as can be!

Perfect little blooms that don't need water and will never wilt.

This tiny arrangement was created in a mini mason jar. I painted the inside of the jar white, allowed it to dry, then added my oasis. Again, so simple and very sweet :) 

Be sure to hop over to the Petaloo blog for more gorgeous (though non-pizza related) ideas for your lovely.

Supplies
Botanica Blooms 1102Botanica Petite’s 1101Chantilly-VelvHydrangeas 1272
Burlap Trims Natural 1483

White paint
Floral Oasis
Small jars or tins
Hearts or other small embellishments
Optional - Essential oils

The Lovers

My one little thing sort of got a little out of hand this week. I spent a long time on this piece. I probably could have spent forever on it and still be fiddling. But there comes a to time to let things be. You may have noticed that this piece is a tiny bit DeMeng-y. You'd be right. I'm a big fan of his work and keep meaning to sign up for one of Michael DeMeng's online classes... but... well... I keep getting distracted. Soon!

Anywho, without further a-do, The Lovers...

He opened the door of the old cupboard and saw a single item sitting on the shelf.

He had no idea what the object was, but he was hit with the instant realization that he had been completely wrong about it's creator.

He had been dismissive. At times she had been indistinguishable from the background. He had missed her magic altogether.

If only...

His regret was of no consequence. There would be no lovers totem for him.

It was not resentment for the lack of affection or attention. She did not share her bed, heart or mind with anyone who did not appreciate her value.

She knew her own worth.

Altered Altoid Tins Revisited

A very nice surprise yesterday when Scrapbook Expo shared my Secret Garden tins. I thought perhaps it would be fun to look back and share some of the altered Altoids tins I've created over the years.

The Secret Garden altoid tins

Halloweeny Altoid Tin

The Evil Dead Altered Altoid Tin

E is for Edward (Gorey)

A Secretive Altoid Tin

Wicked Circus Tin

221B Baker Street Tin

Haunted House Tin
This project is over on craftster but the images links are broken.
I stink. I know.

And that's about it. There are a few others, but this is the bulk of them. Perhaps it's time to pick up work on the last ones I was working on...

One Little Thing - The Lovers

Next Saturday is Valentines Day and I've chosen "The Lovers" as this weeks theme.

Wait! Wait! Wait! Hear me out on this one...

If you are the lovey dovey type and go in for flowers and boxes of chocolate and romance, by all means, go ahead and get your Cupid on! Pull out the pink paint and hearts!

BUT if you're disinclined to jump on that bandwagon now is the perfect opportunity to do some really creative thinking. Just because the prompt is "The Lovers" does not mean that they have to be particularly good lovers, or nice, or well suited or that their tryst lasts very long at all.

Have fun with your making this week!
xoxo

My One Little Thing "Fruitful"

Here is my one little thing for this weeks 'fruitful' theme. It's not at all what I intended but there's two lessons from this sketchy mess.

My kiddo actually asked me to make with him this week. My kiddo isn't much interested in art or making. I suppose that being surrounded by mum's 'work' sort of takes the appeal out of it. Or maybe he's just more interested in other things... like food... and sports... and youtube. So when he asked me to sit down and draw with him all other plans went out the window.

So, lesson 1: ALWAYS draw or make with your kids when they ask. Not only is it time spent together, it places importance on creativity. You are showing them that making is valuable. That's the whole point of these 'one little thing' exercises, to give value to the time, any time, spent creatively.

Lesson 2: I used terrible waxy crayons for this picture. Awful things placed in those kids kits of 1001 art supplies on sale for $5. I swear they are one step away from drawing with a candle.

It occurred to me that anyone looking for a way to focus on the process of making rather than end result might find using bad supplies helpful. It would give you permission to just have fun without the expectation of an exceptional result. I'm not saying that blaming tools is a wise (or honest) excuse for bad work... but it just might be helpful if you've forgotten how to scribble and just want a bit of fun ;)

P.S. You may have noticed I missed last weeks post. Yep. But that's ok! We all have hectic weeks we can't fit it all in... myself included.